One of the VIP guests invited to the 2014 World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday is already planning for the next tournament in Russia four years from now.

Big time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will attend the final by invitation along with many other leading politicians, is ready to splash some serious cash when it comes to hosting the World Cup for the first-time in his nations history. Putin and members of the Kremlin are planning to spend over $20 BILLION on hosting the showpiece event, as costs for new stadiums, infrastructure and transport links will be hefty. Putin will be up for reelection in 2018 and could see hosting the World Cup as a great tool to rally public support behind him.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly plans to spend $20 billion on Russia’s hosting of the 2018 competition. His ambitious plan will see stadiums and infrastructure built over an area stretching 1,500 miles from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Ural Mountains that form the gateway to Asia. The event is expected to follow the economic blueprint of this year’s Sochi Winter Games – the most expensive Olympics in history with estimated overall price tag of $51 billion.”

Putting the reported budget for the 2018 tournament into context, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil reportedly cost over $14 billion, while South Africa 2010 came in at $3.9 billion. That means the money Russia will spending on the 2018 World Cup is five-times the amount that was spent in South Africa. Wowza.

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi were deemed a success in Russia, as Putin spent an incredible $51 billion on the event to make it the most expensive Olympics in history. The event was safe, delivered what was expected but now Sochi has no need for the stadiums, hotels and other infrastructure built for the games. In the bigger cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, improving soccer stadiums and transport will prove beneficial, but in some of the more remote World Cup cities in Russia spending is badly needed on other things. Will “White Elephants” be left behind all over Russia when the tournament has finished? Or will the Russian people benefit from this monumental expenditure on World Cup stadiums and facilities?

That remains to be seen. Putin’s plans may be grand, but they should improve the country for the long-term, not just dazzle during a World Cup, then dissolve into dereliction.

Never mind all that: Harry Kane was healthy, and scored three goals as Spurs kept pace with group mates Real Madrid in filing a 3-0 win at APOEL Nicosia in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Kane said he was very proud of the side’s performance, as youngster Anthony Georgiou and seldom-used Georges-Kevin N’Koudou put in shifts in the win. From the BBC:

“We weren’t pleased with the first-half and a couple of chances could have gone the other way. We were more clinical and in the Champions League that is what you have got to be.

“We are missing a few players but the lads who stepped in were fantastic. We have a solid squad and you have to be ready. 3-0 away in the Champions League no matter who you play is a good result.”

Kane has 11 goals in September between club and country, and has six hat tricks in 2017. There may not be a finer big striker firing in Europe right now, and both England and Spurs will hope to ride him well into 2018.

A point from far from home is not the end of the world, but Liverpool will rue its missed chances in a 1-1 draw at Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Artyom Rebrov had a stellar day for Spartak before being injured and then replaced by Aleksandr Selikhov, who was also strong for the Russians.

Fernando (not that one) scored a free kick for Spartak, while Philippe Coutinho bagged the equalizer that keeps the Reds ahead of Spartak on goal difference. Both sides are three points behind Sevilla.

Hugo Lloris flubbed an early clearance and was fortunate to see the back-bounding ball dribble wide of his left post.

Carlao could’ve given APOEL a surprise lead close to halftime but headed wide of the net from within 10 yards.

Kane nearly added an assist to his ledger at the start of the second half, but Son Heung-min just missed his effort wide of the frame.

He scored another goal anyway, and another one. Moussa Sissoko set Kane up for the second of the night, a relatively simple finish for the striker, and Kane completed his trio of goals when he headed Kieran Trippier‘s cross home.